Read like a Hebrew

Key Symbolic Elements

   Mustard Seed:
       Smallest but grows largest: Represents Christ's humility in the nativity (born in a manger, least in worldly terms).
       Seed of the woman: Christ is the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5).

   Mustard in Greek sounds like "bruised by anger" in Hebrew:
       Christ bore the bruises of mankind’s anger and sin, starting from His humble beginnings in the nativity, culminating in His sacrifice.

   Grass and Herbs:
       Grass with seeds on the outside: Symbolizes the accessibility of God's word, made evident and visible to all through Christ’s teachings.
       Herbs for men: Herbs relate to deeper learning or the “eating” (metaphorically, learning) of Christ’s teachings as the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

   Eating as Learning:
       The shepherds and wise men at the nativity "learned" through their encounter with the Word made flesh, representing the beginning of humanity's spiritual sustenance through Christ.

   Tree as the Cross:
       The nativity foreshadows the cross. The wood of the manger parallels the wood of the cross, linking Christ’s birth to His ultimate purpose.

   Birds as Men Living in the Spirit:
       Those who live in the Spirit find rest in the “branches” (the cross), pointing to salvation. The shepherds and wise men represent the first "birds" drawn to the tree, recognizing its significance.

Integration into the Nativity Scene

   Christ as the Mustard Seed:
       His birth as a baby in a manger is the beginning of the Kingdom’s growth. His humility and service exemplify His role as the least who becomes the greatest.

   Shepherds and Wise Men Eating (Learning):
       The shepherds, representing the simple and humble, and the wise men, representing the learned, both "ate" the revelation of the Kingdom. The shepherds saw the Word made accessible, while the wise men pursued the deeper mysteries (herbs).

   Manger as Grass:
       The manger, filled with hay or grass for cattle, symbolizes the Word (accessible to all) made flesh. Christ is the Bread of Life, even as a newborn.

   The Star as Seed Visible to All:
       The star guiding the wise men is a visible “seed,” revealing the Kingdom’s reach. It parallels the outward-facing seed of grass, inviting all to partake.

   The Cross in the Nativity:
       The manger's wood foreshadows the cross, linking the beginning and end of Christ’s earthly mission. The swaddling clothes (strips of cloth) evoke burial cloths, reminding us of His purpose to die and rise again.

   Birds Representing the Spirit’s Call:
       The angelic host appearing to the shepherds symbolizes the spiritual realm opening to humanity. The "birds" who will rest in the tree’s branches are prefigured in those who come to worship Christ at His birth.

Conclusion

The nativity scene, viewed through the lens of the mustard seed parable and related symbols, reveals Christ’s mission as the ultimate teacher, the Bread of Life, and the humble seed that grows into the Kingdom. The shepherds, wise men, and even the animals represent humanity in all its diversity, drawn to learn from and rest in the Word made flesh, foreshadowing the cross as the tree of life and the source of spiritual sustenance. You said: Assimilate this and reqrite: The parable of the mustard seed is taught this way by the Greek (Gentile) church: The kingdom starts off small and grows larger and larger. If we have faith like the seed we can do miracles that no one seems to be able to do (move the mountain to the sea). We argue if the birds are angels, demons, or Gentiles. Then we wonder, and or defend, that Jesus said it was the smallest seed, when everyone else knows its not. This is NOT biblical preaching!

Hear the WORD of the LORD!

Jesus was the seed of the woman in Genesis. [1] He was the least of all the seed because he served us all through his death on the cross. The word for ‘mustard’ in Greek [2] is similar to ‘bruised by anger’ in Hebrew. [3] The prophecy of the seed of the woman speaks of his incarnation, kenosis, tribulation, temptation and final obedience on the cross.

The seed (Jesus) grew to be the great herb. The grass was given to cattle to eat, and the herbs were given to men to eat. The greatest thing men can eat is the body of Christ. He is the great herb. Eating is a metaphor for learning, so he became the great teacher. We also celebrate the cattle (sheep) eating the grass when we put baby Jesus in the manger with the grass. We have the same symbol of eating his body at the beginning of his life with the grass, as we have at the end of his life with the bread.

The tree is the cross… and those birds? If you live in the spirit you rest in the cross.

Lets move a mountain. The two mem’s in the Hebrew word for waters מים have metaphoric meaning for the Father and the Son. The Father is Spirit and the Son is Truth. Jesus told the woman at Sychar that though she worshiped on the mountain, she would worship in Spirit and Truth. The mountain would be moved to the water.

The parable of the mustard seed speaks of Christ at every turn and is revealed by the word itself. The parable contains a riddle:

   Eze 17:2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

ChatGPT said: ChatGPT

The parable of the mustard seed is often misinterpreted in the Greek (Gentile) church as follows:

   The kingdom starts small and grows larger and larger.
   If we have faith like the seed, we can perform miracles, such as moving mountains into the sea—miracles which no one seems able to do.
   We debate whether the birds are angels, demons, or Gentiles.
   We question and defend Jesus’ statement that the mustard seed is the smallest, even though others know it’s not.

This is NOT biblical preaching! Hear the WORD of the LORD!

The True Meaning of the Parable: Jesus is the seed of the woman foretold in Genesis 3:15. He became the least of all seeds because He served us through His life, death, and resurrection. The Greek word for “mustard” sounds like the Hebrew for “bruised by anger,” pointing to Jesus’ suffering and obedience. The prophecy of the seed of the woman encompasses His incarnation, humility, trials, temptations, and ultimate sacrifice on the cross.

The mustard seed (Jesus) grew into the great herb. Grass was given to cattle to eat, and herbs were given to men to eat. The greatest “food” for men is the body of Christ. Eating symbolizes learning, making Jesus not only the Bread of Life but also the ultimate teacher.

In the nativity, this truth is echoed:

   Baby Jesus is laid in a manger filled with grass, symbolizing the Word made accessible to all, feeding both cattle (sheep, or God’s people) and men.
   The grass at His birth mirrors the bread at His death, both pointing to the spiritual nourishment found in Him.

The Tree and the Birds: The tree represents the cross. The birds are those who live in the Spirit, finding rest and salvation in the branches of the cross. Moving the Mountain

The Hebrew word for waters, מים (mayim), contains two mems, symbolizing the Father and the Son. The Father is Spirit, and the Son is Truth. At Sychar, Jesus told the woman at the well that worship would no longer be tied to a mountain but would be in Spirit and Truth. The mountain (earthly worship) is moved to the waters (Spirit and Truth). The Parable as a Riddle

The parable of the mustard seed, like many parables, contains a riddle—a deep truth revealed to those with ears to hear. As Ezekiel 17:2 says:

"Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel."

The mustard seed parable points to Christ at every turn, revealed through the Word itself. It testifies to His humility, sacrifice, teaching, and ultimate fulfillment of the Kingdom. Let us understand it as a profound revelation of Him who was bruised for our sake and grew into the tree of life for all who believe.